By now you've probably seen our Facebook page but have little idea of what the Mooting Society will actually involve. You are probably wondering, why should I join the Mooting Society? Will I get to spend time with Matt Büdler? Is it worth joining? The answers to these questions are read this post, definitely and definitely. It just happens to the the case that joining will provide you with an extensive amount of benefits, improving your law school experience as well as your desirability from the perspective of potential employers. It takes less than a minute to sign up and is completely cost free, just look for one of the many "join" buttons on our website!

The central focus of the Mooting Society will be competitions. Whether you are a new part two with almost no law school experience, or a fifth year honours student, you will be given the chance to put your mooting skills to the test in one of the many competitions on offer. We are most excited about the John Haigh Memorial Moot. It is a new competition for 2014 and was established in memoriam of John Haigh QC, an alumnus of the Auckland Law School and a leading barrister. It aims to bridge the gap between the Junior Moot and Stout Shield. This is the ideal moot to develop and advance your skills, the rankings in this moot will be important as they will go towards entry into the Stout Shield. In 2014, this competition will be held in the second semester. The winner of the moot is awarded a prize of $2,000 and the runner up $500.

The Mooting Society will also aim to help its members with the more academic aspects of law school. Mooting can be scary at first but the more you do it, the better you get. Participating in the competitions will give you valuable experience and practice for the compulsory assessed Criminal Law and Torts moots. We will also offer seminars to provide specific guidance for these compulsory moots, with top achieving students from previous years offering important guidance. On top of these explicit academic benefits, mooting also afford participants the opportunity to develop their understanding of the law and improve their skills in legal research and analysis.

Mooting tests a number of skills: organisation, teamwork, confidence, clarity of oral expression, the ability to think on your feet and more. Those are valuable skills in a multitude of careers so proving your worth in a moot will impress a range of potential employers. Winning or reaching the finals in one of our competitions is just what you need to make your CV stand out from the rest when applying for that dream legal job! On top of this, mooting enables the interaction between students and members of academic staff, practitioners and judges, in a rewarding environment. It is an excellent networking opportunity.

Hopefully you now have a better picture of what the Mooting Society will do and why you should join. If you have any questions feel free to contact us through our Facebook page or website. We will also have a stand during O-Week outside the Dave to help with any questions or just to have a chat, come say hi! Be sure to sign up on the website as well as liking the Facebook page to receive the full benefits of the Mooting Society.